Arts and business leaders voice backing for former BP chief

Leading figures in Britain's arts, business and political establishments have joined forces to praise former BP chief Lord John Browne.

A letter published in today's Guardian reads: "We wish to place on public record our support now and in the future for our friend John Browne and to thank him for his immense and unique contribution to business, the economy and to art, culture and the environment."

It added: "We wish him well, stand by him and look forward to working with him in the years ahead."

The 64 signatories include financial heavyweights Sir Winfried Bischoff, chairman of Citigroup, and Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, key movers from the arts such as Gail Rebuck, chief executive of Random House, and Sir Nicholas Serota, director of the Tate gallery, and Labour peers such as Lord Puttnam.

Lord Puttnam said he had signed because he felt it important to support a good friend. "I know him and I have worked with him and on every occasion I have found him to be absolutely straightforward; a clear and decent man. I have found this whole thing ghastly. He is one of the nicest men I have ever dealt with."

Controversy has surrounded Lord Browne since revelations last week that he had lied to the high court about how he had met his former partner, Jeff Chevalier. He claimed they had met exercising in Battersea Park; in fact, as associates of Lord Browne acknowledge, they met through a website called suitedandbooted.com.

The man once hailed as "the Sun King of the oil industry", who was due to leave his post at BP in July, stood down immediately and in doing so forfeited a leaving package worth up to £15.5m.

Lord Browne, 58, had appealed to the House of Lords in an attempt to prevent the Mail on Sunday publishing details of his relationship with his former lover.

During several court hearings details of the pair's allegedly extravagant lifestyle were discussed, as well as disputed claims that company resources were diverted for Mr Chevalier's use and Lord Browne had attempted to evade tax payments.

In a statement, Lord Browne said: "In my 41 years with BP I have kept my private life separate from my business life. I have always regarded my sexuality as a personal matter, to be kept private. It is a matter of deep disappointment that a newspaper group has now decided that allegations about my personal life should be made public."

Sir John Tusa, managing director of the Barbican, who also signed the letter, said he worked closely with Lord Browne on the board of the British Museum. "What has happened is desperately sad. If he had changed a few words of what he said he would not be where he is today, but I hope the dust will settle. He remains a great businessman and a remarkable person."